Inkstand



March` 17, 1942. G, J, SENGBUSCH 2,276,352

INKSTAND Filed Sept. 9, 1959 #EN Y. o@

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE INKSTAND Gustav J. Sengbusch, Milwaukee, Wis. Application September 9, 1939, Serial No. 294,063

(ci. 12o-59) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in inkstands and more particularly to inkstands of the type wherein a relatively large supply of ink is stored in a receptacle and a relatively small quantity of ink contained in a dipping well connected to the main reservoir in such a way that the level of ink in the well is maintained at a substantially constant depth.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide an inkstand of the character indicated wherein the main supply or reservoir of ink comprises the bottle in which the ink is sold at retail and wherein such a bottle of ink is so mounted as to deliver its content to a dipping well; to provide an inkstand of the character indicated which is adapted to receive interchangeably most if not all of the various styles and shapes of bottles in which ink is usually sold; to provide an inkstand of the character yindicated in which a bottle of ink may be inserted and positioned with comparative ease and without serious damages of spilling ink outside of the inkstand; to provide a device of the character indicated which will be durable and efficient in use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture so that it may be sold at a price consistent-with its practical value.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein there is illustrated an inkstand of the type mentioned which embodies a selected form of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cross-section on a vertical plane through approximately the middle of the structure (the plane of the section being indicated by the line I-I on Figure 2); v

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are sections, respectively on the lines 2-2, 3 3 and 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the improved inkstand therein illustrated comprises a main housing 5, a dipping well 6 and a cover or cap 1. The main housing is provided with a bottom portion 8. The housing 5, comprising its bottom member 8 and cap 1, encloses an adapter or holder 9 which serves to position an ink bottle, represented in dotted lines at IIl, within the housing. As indicated, the ink bottle is disposed in inverted position and the arrangement is such that ink flows from the inkbottle into the dipping well Ii.

The adapter o1' holder 9 is preferably formed of a strap of suitable metal which resists corrosion by ink and in this instance the holder is illustrated as being in the form of a closed loop, the top wall II of which is formed by the overlapping end portions of the strap from which the holder is formed. The overlapping, top wall forming portions may be welded or otherwise united and said top wall is Aprovided with a suitably formed boss or enlargement I2 which cooperates with the top wall Il to provide adequate thickness in which to form a tapped hole I3 for receiving a clamping screw I4. The bottom wall I5 of the holder is made of such width and length as to be adapted to receive the mouth end, indicated at I6, of the bottle and it is further provided with an elongated narrow slot I1 through which ink is adapted to flow for delivery to the dipping well 6. The width of the bottom well I5 may be the same as the width of the top wall II and of the opposite side walls I8 and I9, so that the holder may be formed from a simple strap metal member bent to the shape indicated and to the size desired for cooperation with the housing member 5 in the manner about to be explained.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the ink bottle such as I0 is placed Within the adapter 9 and clamped in predetermined position therein by turning down the clamping screw I4 until the mouth end I6 of the bottle is held with sufficient tightness against the bottom wall I5 yof the adapter. n

The housing 5 is preferably formed of hard rubber or other material which is not affected by ink and it is preferably a material which may be molded to produce a one-piece structure. The housing comprises frontand back walls 20 and 2|, respectively, and opposite side walls 22' and 23, respectively. The side walls 22 and 23 are preferably of a width which corresponds to the width of the adapter 9 or, if preferred, shoulders such as indicated at 2, 24 may be provided adjacent the front and back edges of each of the side walls and in such spaced relation as to receive between them the side walls I8 and I9 of the holder. The holder is `thus adapted to be effectively held in upright position within the housing 5.

The upper marginal portions of the side walls 20, 2|, 22 and 23 of the housing may be recessed as indicated at 25 to receive the lower marginal portion of the cap 1, the cap vand housing being thus provided with cooperating shoulders for positioning the cap vertically with respect to the housing.

The bottom portion 8 of the housing is provided with a centrally disposed, upwardly projecting portion 26, the top surface of which is spaced upwardly from the normal inside bottom surface 21 of the housing. Said'upwardly projecting part 25 is adapted to receive and supportv the ink bottle holder with its lowermost surface in upwardly spaced relation to the normal bottom 21 of the housing, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. For cooperation with the opening II in the bottom part of the holder, there is provided in the bottom part of the housing a channel 28 which receives ink from the bottle and delivers it to the well 6. To facilitate the iiow of ink from the bottle through the holder opening I'I, there is provided a channel portion 2S of relatively narrow width and of shallow depth, the same being such as to produce a capillary effect for facilitating the flow of ink through the opening II into the channel 28. As shown, the channel 29 is also preferably formed with an inclined bottom arranged to gradually increase the depth of the channel in the direction in which it is desired to have the ink flow. Said shallow channel portion 29 thus constitutes a capillary feeding means for insuring the proper iiow of ink from the ink bottle through the opening I'I to the dipping well 6.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 4, the dipping well 6 is accessible to the writing point of a pen through an upwardly iiared socket 3D which is preferably .but not necessarily formed integrally with the housing 5. Said socket 30 is also preferably equipped with a series of vertically extending and circumferentially spaced ribs 3|, the upper portions of which are adapted to cooperate with the lower end portion of a properly formed pen 32 to support the pen in conveniently accessible position with its writing point normally immersed in ink in the well 6. For cooperating with the seating engagement between the ribs 3l' and the lower end portion of the pen holder to hold the pen in upright, accessible position, the dipping well is formed with its inner wall portion 33 in such a position that the pen point is adapted to engage said wall 33 as shown in Figure 1.

In the described inkstand the level of ink is determined by the elevation of the highest point at which air may gain access to the ink bottle. In the illustrated construction the highest point at which air may normally gain entrance to the ink bottle is in the plane of the outer or lower surface of the bottom I5 of the holder. In the event that the inside or upper surface of the holder bottom I5 fails to make a tight joint with the mouth of the ink bottle, the highest point for entrance of air into the ink bottle would be in the plane of such leak as is present; this, however, would merely cause the depth of ink in the dipping well to be raised to the extent of thev thickness of the holder bottom which raise will not impair the operativeness of the device. It is preferred, in the interest of ease of manipulation and avoidance of ink spilling when inserting the bottle and holder in the housing, that the inside of the holder bottom be adapted to form a leakfree joint with the mouth of the bottle and to this end a suitable gasket (not shown) may be interposed if necessary between said parts to facilitate the making of such a joint.

In inkstands of the type herein contemplated changes of temperature and atmospheric pressure, especially increases of the latter, sometimes cause an excess of ink to be forced out of the reservoir, in this case the bottle Iil. Such excess displacement of ink tends to increase the depth of ink in the dipping well 6 lbut in any event the increase will not be sufficient to impair the usefulness of the device, since any increase in depth of ink will be spread out not only over the area of the dipping well 6 but also over the area of the channel 23 and over the entire area of the housing 5 outwardly of the mouth I6 of the reservoir bottle.

In the described structure, any one of a large number of differently shaped and sized ink bot- A ber adapted to embrace ties may be seated or mounted in the adapter or holder 9. It will be understood that any of such bottles may be effectively clamped in position in the holder by turning down the set screw I4 and that positioning of the bottle is in no degree dependent upon engagement of the bottle with the walls of the housing 5.

In Figure 4, three diierent 'shapes of bottles are indicated in dotted lines, the same typifying an extensive variety of bottles which are found on the market. The bottle, being effectively held in the mounting member 9, is suitably positioned in the housing through the agency of the holder 9 which itself is of such size that its side walls I8 and I9 engage the adjacent side walls 23 and 22, respectively, of the housing with the edges of the said side walls I 8 and I9 in engagement with the inner sides of the front and back walls 2o and 2l, or with shoulders such as indicated at 24, whereby said adapter is held in upright position while resting on the top of the bottom projection 26.

It will be apparent that the described structure eliminates the nuisance of pouring ink from a bottle into a receptacle and further that it may be easily and quickly charged with a supply of ink which will in ordinary cases be suiiicient for an extended period of time. Inasmuch as the main housing structure including the bottom portion and dipping well are made in one piece and without seams, there is no likelihood of leakage developing, and because of the relatively wide base area, tipping of the device and possible spilling of ink are eiectively prevented.

The described inkstand construction may be made in various shapes and sizes and it facilitates the production of a practicable, inexpensive and attractive inkstand. The outward design or appearance and the details of construction may be varied considerably without departing from the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible, consistent with the state of the art.

I claim: l

l. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a housing provided with a dipping well, an ink bottle holder adapted to be removably supported in predetermined position in said housing, said holder comprising a loop member adapted to embrace each of'a plurality of differently shaped bottles, the holder having a bottom wall part for receiving the mouth ends of such bottles and a top wall part provided with adjustable means for clamping such bottles against said bottom wall part, said bottom wall part being provided with an opening for permitting ink to iiow from the bottle for delivery to Said well.

2. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a housing provided with a dipping well, an ink bottle holder adapted to be removably supported in predetermined position in said housing, said holder comprising a loop memeach of a plurality of differently shaped bottles, the holder having a ybottom wall part for receiving the mouth ends of such bottles and a top wall part provided with adjustable means for clamping such bottles against said bottom wall part, said bottom wall part being provided with an opening for permitting ink to flow from the bottle for delivery to said well', said housing having a bottom portion provided with an upwardly projecting part adapted to lbe engaged by said holder for supporting the latter in upwardly spaced relation to the normal bottom of the housing, and the bottom of the housing being provided with a channel for conducting ink from said lbottle to said well.

3. In an inkstand of the class described, a housing adapted to receive an ink bottle in inverted, ink discharging position, a dipping well at one side of said housing, and a channel in said housing for conducting ink from a bottle therein to said dipping well, said channel having a capillary receiving portion adapted to control the flow of ink from said bottle to said channel.

4. In an inkstand of the class described, a housing adapted to receive an ink bottle in inverted, ink discharging position, a dipping well at one side of said housing, and a channel in said housing for conducting ink from a bottle therein to said dipping well, said channel having a capillary receiving portion provided with a bottom wall inclined downwardly in the direction of ink ilow, said receiving portion being adapted to control the flow of ink from said bottle to said channel.

5. In an inkstand of the Iclass described,`the combination of a housing, an ink bottle holder adapted to be removably supported in predetermined position in said housing, said holder having oppositely disposed parts, one of which isv engageable with and closes the mouth of said bottle and the other of which is provided with means for clamping the bottle mouth against said engaged part, the latter being provided with means permitting ink to flow from said bottle when in inverted position.

6. An inkstand according to claim 5 wherein the means for clamping the bottle in the holder comprises a screw threadedly engaging a suitably tapped aperture in -a portion of the holder.

'1. In an inkstand of the inverted bottle type, a housing comprising a base having an ink receiving well, a housing wall extending upwardly from said base, and an ink bottle holder insertable in said housing and having means for clamping an ink bottle in fixed, inverted position in the holder for delivering ink to said well, said holder and housing having interengaging portions for supporting said holder and a bottle therein in iiXed relation to the housing, said holder having means for controlling the low of ink from the mouth of such inverted ink bottle during the insertion of the holder and ink bottle into said housing so as to prevent substantial discharge of ink from the bottle during such insertion.

8. In an inkstand of the inverted bottle type, a housing comprising `a base having an ink receiving well, ya. housing wall extending upwardly from said base, and an ink bottle holder insertable in said housing and having means for lclamping an ink bottle in xed, inverted position in the holder for delivering ink to said well, said holder and housing having interengaging portions for supporting said holder and a bottle therein in fixed relation to the housing, said holder having a portion overlying the mouth of the ink bottle and provided with an opening permitting restricted flow of ink from the bottle and serving to facilitate insertion of the holder and bottle in said housing without substantial discharge of ink from the bottle during such insertion.

9. In an inkstand of the inverted bottle type, a housing comprising a base having lan ink receiving well, a housing wall extending upwardly from said base, and an ink bottle holder insertable in said housing and having means for clamping an ink bottle in xed, inverted position in the holder for delivering ink to said well, said holder and housing having interengaging portions for supporting said holder and a bottle therein in Xed relation to the housing, said holder having H a portion overlying the mouth of the ink bottle and provided with an opening permitting restricted flow of ink from the bottle and serving to facilitate insertion of the holder and bottle in said housing without substantial discharge of ink from the bottle during such insertion, the Ibottom of said housing having means cooperating with said opening to facilitate the ow of ink through said opening when the holder with an ink bottle mounted therein is seated in the housing.

10. In an inkstand vof the class described, a receptacle having a pen socket communicating therewith, an ink bottle in said receptacle provided with an ink outlet at its lower end, said ink outlet being of relatively small size so as to resist the free flow of ink therethrough, and means formed on the bottom of said receptacle for association with said outlet opening and adapted to assist the ow of ink through said opening.

1l. In an inkstand of the class described, a receptacle having a bottom wall provided with an ink well and with an elongated slot for conducting ink to said well, there being also a pen socket associated with said receptacle and communicating with said well, an ink bottle having a mouth and being Iprovided with a stopper, said stopper having an elongated ink outlet slot, said ink bottle and stopper being insertable in inverted position in said receptacle lwith said outlet slot substantially in register with said slot in the bottom of the receptacle, land means for insuring such registration of said slots.

12. In an inkstand of the class described, a receptacle having a bottom wall provided With an ink well and with an axially disposed, elongated slot for conducting ink to said well, there being also a pen socket associated with said receptacle and communicating with said Well, an ink bottle having a mouth and `being provided with a removable stopper, said stopper having an elongated ink outlet slot located therein so as to be disposed substantially coaxially with the bottle, said ink bottle and stopper Ibeing insertable in inverted .position in said receptacle with said outlet slot substantially in register with said slot in the bottom of the receptacle, and means for insuring such registration of said slots.

13. In :an inkstand of the class described, a receptacle adapted to receive an ink bottle in inverted position, said receptacle having a bottom wall provided with an -upstanding boss adapted to support the bottle in predetermined elevated relation to said bottom wall, the lower end of said bottle being provided with an outlet hole of such size as to normally res-ist the free flow of ink therethrough and said boss being provided with an opening adapted to communicate `with said hole to provide an ink conduit for delivery of ink to the bottom of the receptacle outwardly of said boss, said opening and hole being of such size as to constitute capillary ink feeding means serving to automatically regulate the flow of ink from said bottle.

GUSTAV J. SENGBUSCH. 

